Gumming device



' March 8, 1932. NOVICK 1,848,138

GUMMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l eh to r A ttomeysMarch 8, 1932. A. NOVlCK 1,848,138

' GUMMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10. 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AttorneysPatented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca ABRAHAM NOVICK OFFLUS'HING, NEW YORK, ABSIGIll'OB '1'0 1. L 00.,

INO.,'OF NEW YORK, N. Y A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK some nnvrcnApplication filed November 10, 1927. Serial No. 232,273.

This invention relates to envelope-making machines, and has particularreference to gumming devices therefor.

An ob ect of the invention is the provlsion I! of novel and improvedmeans for protecting certain parts of the gum-applying mechanism frombecoming coated with adhesive material when, in the operation of themachine, there occurs a failure to feed an envelope-blank through thegum-applying machine. It is usual in this art to provide a gumapplicator which contacts with the envelope-blank in the passage of theblank through the machine, thus transferring thereto gum or otheradhesive which is supplied to the applicator from a suitable receptacle.This applicator is ordinarily in the form of a roller, between which anda cooperative pressure roller the envelope-blank is automatically fed.The envelope-blank feeding mechanism so co-operating with thegum-applying device, that, under ordinary operating conditions, a blankis available for interposition between the applicator and thecooperating pressure roller at the time in the cycle of movement thereofwhen the gum-applying process is to be effected. It

sometimes occurs, however, that because of temporary failure of theenvelope-blank feeding mechanism to properly function, or because thesupply of said blanks has become exhausted. no blank is available forinterposition between the applicator and the pressure rollerco-operating therewith. Under these conditions, and in the absence ofmeans for preventing such an occurrence, the gum carried by theapplicator is transferred therefrom to the pressure roller-the resultbeing that a number of the blanks next passing through the machine willhave gum applied to both their inner and outer surfaces, therebv notonly spoiling such blanks but also interfering with the operation ofthe-machine. The present invention embodies simple and efficient meansfor insuring against transfer of gum fromthe applicator to its co-actingpressure roller.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein it is shown in its present preferred embodiment, andin which Figure 1 is a transverse section of a.- portion of anenvelope-making machine embodying a gum applicator and associated parts,certain of such parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail illustrating certain of the artsshown'in Figure 1, but with some 0 said parts in different operativepositions;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail similaii to Figure 2, but showing theparts in still other operative positions;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the-device embodying the invention,certain of the associated parts shown 'in Figures 1, 2, and 3 beingomitted; and

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figture 4, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings: 1 and la of Figure 4 denote a framework,supported in which are a number of shafts, to be hereinafter described.Referring to Figure 1, a gum receptacle 2 supplies gum or other adhesivematerial to a continuously-rotating doctor-roller 3, mounted upon ashaft 4. The doctor-roller contacts with and transfers gum to theperiphery of the segmental portion 5a of an applicator 5. This peripheryof the segmental portion 511 may be of oppositely disposed helicalconformation, or of such other configuration as to correspond to theshape of the area of the envelope-blank to which it is desired to applygum. The applicator 5 is provided with a base 6, adapted to be attachedto a hub 7 mounted on a continuously-rotating shaft 8. A stack ofenvelope-blanks (not shown) is adapted to be positioned on afeeding-table 9, and to be fed therefrom (bv devices not shown) into thebight of feed rollers 10 and13. Feed roller 10 is mounted on a shaft 11.Roller 13,

which is mounted on shaft 14, is springpressed against roller 10,whereby said rollers co-operatively and frictionally forwardly feed anenvelope-blank 12 (Figures 2 and 3). Afterpassin through the gamingdevice, the envelopelank enters the bight of rollers 15 and'16, mountedrespectively on shafts 17 and 18, by which latter rollers-it is carriedto other mechanism forming a part of the machine.

A feeler 19 is mounted on a shaft 20, journalled in arms 21 and 21a,which arms are attached to a shaft 22, supgorted in frame 11a. Thefeeler is PIOVI ed at its upper end with a shoe portion, 23, constructedand arranged to frictionally contact with the envelope-blank 12 duringthe passage of thelatter through the rollers 10 and 13, whereby saidblank actuates said feeler to move it to the right (as shown in Figures1, 2 and 3). An adjustable sto 24 contacts with an adjusting arm 25,attached by a clamping-screw 26 to a shaft 22, whereby feeler 19 may beraised or lowered with reference to feed rollers 10 and 13 to bring itinto proper operating position whereby it will be actuated by thefrictional contact of its shoe portion 23 with the moving envelope-blank12. A coil spring 27 maintains adjusting arm in contact with stop 24.Feeler 19 carries a pin 28, supporting one end of a link 29, theopposite end of which link carries a pin 30, extending through andmovable in 'a slot 31 of an arm 32, attached by a clamping-screw 33 to ashaft 34. Loosely mounted on shaft 34 is a shaft-rocking arm 35, throughwhich pin also passes. Attached to shaft 34 are roller-sup orting arms36and 36a, journalled in whic arms is pressure roller 37 adapted, whenproperly positioned, to press the envelope-blank 12 against theperiphery of the segmental portion 5a of applicator 5, in order that gummay be transferred to said blank from said segmental portion.

Shaft 34 is journalled in two supporting arms 38 and 38a, which arms aremounted on a shaft 39, attached to which shaft, by any suitable meanssuch as clamping-screw 40, is an arm 41, which, by the action ofadjustable stop 42, may slightly rotate shaft 39 to bring pressureroller '37 into operating contact with the segmental portion 5a ofapplicator 5. v A coil spring 43 maintains arm 41 in contact withadjustable stop 42. Arm 32 is provided witha lug 43a, carrying one endof a coil spring 44; and shaft-rocking arm is provided with a similarlug 45, also carrying one end of a coil spring 46. The purpose of thesesprings will be hereinafter described. Mounted on shaft 8, which carriesapplica tor 5, is a cam 47 (Figures 1, 2 and 3), the purpose of whichwill be presently explained. The mode of operation of the device is asfollows: Figure '1 illustrates the positions which the several parts ofthe protective mechanism occupy when the machine is .in operation, butwhen no envelope-blanks are bein fed through the gumming device. It wille noted fromthe dotted line 48 Figure 1), which line indicates the path0 travel of the segmental portion 5a of applicator 5, that, in itsrotation, said segmental portion does not contact with pressure roller37, the reason therefor being that spring 46, acting through lug 45,shaft-rocker arm 35, shaft 34 and roller-supporting arms 36 and 36a,maintains said pressure roller 37 to the left and out of the ath oftravel of said segmental portion which carries the adhesive. However,when by reason of the frictional contact of the feed rollers 10 and 13with the envelope-blank 12, such blank is fed to the right (as shown inFigures 2 and 3), the friction of the blank withthe shoe 23 of feeler 19progressively moves said feeler, together with the parts actuatedthereby, into the position shown in Figure 2. It will be understood thatthe rotation of the applicator is timed (by gearing or other suitablemeans not shown) to synchronize with the movements of the envelope-blankfeeding mechanism. Thus, in its travel through rollers 10 and 13, theblank 12, by the action of feeler 19, pin 28, link 29, and pin 30, willhave rotated shaft-rocker arm 35 upon shaft 34, to the position shown inFigure 2, wherein it is about to be engaged by the nose portion of cam47. Thus far pin 30 will merely have moved in slot 31, carrying with itshaft-rocker arm 35. Shaft 34 will not yet have been rocked so that arm32, roller-supporting arms 36 and 36a, and pressure roller 37,journalled in said last-named arms, still remain in their originalpositions as shown in Figure 1. However, as soon as the nose of cam 47contacts with the upper portion of shaft-rocker arm 35, pin 30 iscarried to the extreme right-hand end of slot 31 in arm 32, andimmediately thereafter the contact of said pin with the right-hand endof the wall of said slot forces arm 32 into the position shown in Figure3, producing a slight rotation of shaft 34, to which said arm isclamped. Roller-supporting arms 36 and 36a being attached to shaft 34,said arms are brought into a position where pressure roller 37 pressesagainst the under surface of envelope-blank 12, forcing the uppersurface thereof into contact with the segmental portion 5a of applicator5, and resulting in the transfer of gum from the applicator to theblank. So long as the dwell of cam 47 contacts with shaft-rocker arm 35,pressure will be maintained by roller 37 against the envelope-blank towhich gum is being apobviating the possibility of its scraping, scoringor tearing the blank. When, in the progress of the rotation of cam 47,its dwell passes out of contact with shaft-rocker arm35, coil springs 44and 46 restore the several parts to their original positions as shown inFigure 1.

The invention comprises simple, inexpensive, eflicient andpositively-acting means for insuring that gum shall be applied only tothe desired portions of the envelope-blank. v

I have descri d hat I believe to be the best emb diment of my invention.I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiment shown, but whatI desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.I claim:

1. In an envelope-making machine, the combination with an applicator,means cooperative therewith for transferring gum to an envelope-blankandmeans yieldingly urging said applicator and co-operative means apart andnormally holding them separated, of an actuator for said cooperativemeans moved to an operative position by movement of said blank, andmeans for acting on said actuator when it has been so moved, to movesaid co-operative means into pressure engagement with said applicator.

2. In envelope making, the'combination of an envelope-blank, anapplicator for carrying gum to be transferred to said blank, means forfeeding said blank into juxtaposition with said applicator, and meansactuated by frictional contact with said blank for effect.- ing transferof gum from said applicator to said blank.

3. In an envelope-making machine, the combination of means for feedingan en've-. lope-blanks, means for gumming said blank, andfrictionally-controlled means actuated by movement of said blank forrendering said gumming means operative to gum the said blank.

e 4. In enve1opemaking,the combination of means for feeding an envelopeblank,

means for supplying adhesive material, an

applicator constructed and arranged to rece1ve said adhesive material,and means actuated by frictional engagement with said b'a-lnk forrendering said applicator operative to transfer such adhesive materialto said blank. 5. In envelope making, the combination of means forfeeding an envelope-blank, a gummingmmechanism comprising cooperativemem tive relation, and means actuated by frictional engagement with theblank for causing said members of the gumming mechanism to be broughtinto operative relation to apply gum to the blank. 6. In an envelopemachine, in combination, a pair of elements adapted to form a blankengaging couple and mcluding a gum apengaging couple and ing element,means yieldingly urging said-elers normally maintained in inopera--plying element, means yieldingly elements apart and normally maintainingthem separated, means for relatively moving said elements to bring themtogether into cooperative relationship, said element mov ing means beingnormally inoperative, means operated bythe work itselffor shifting saide ement' moving means to render the same op-j eratlve, and means foroperating the element moving means when said means is thusrenderedoperative.

In an envelope i in combination.- a Pa f lem ts. adapted to form ablank.

engaging couple and including a gum applying element, means yieldinglyurging said elements apart and normally maintaining them separated, afeeler movable by engagement with ablank but arranged to remain idlewhen no bank is being fed, means controlled by the fee'ler to effectapproach of said elements when the feeler is moved, but to remainidlewhenthe feeler remains idle, and power means operable on the feelercontrolled means when the latter is moved by the feeler to press theelements together positively.- I

8. In an envelope machine, in combination,- a pair of elements adaptedto form a blank including a gum applyments apart and normallymaintaining them separated, a tion from which it may be moved by a blankand means. normally inoperative but shifted to an operative position bymovement of the feeler from such normalposition to cause said elementsto be pressed together. 9. In an envelope machine, a pair of ele'- mentsadapted to form a blankengag'ing couple and includinga gum applyingelement, and means controlling approach and separation of said elements,comprising a control member movable by frictional engagement with ablank. a v

10. In an envelope machine, blank feeding means,'a pair of elementsadapted to form a blank engaging couple and including a gum applyingelement, means yieldingly. urging feeler occupying a normal posiloo saidelements apart and normally niaintaining them separated, mechanism forshifting one of said elements toward the other, an actu ting member forsaid shifting mechanism, a continuously operating power membere'nga'geable with saidactuatmg member to op- -erate the latter, andmeans responsive to the feeding of a blank to move said actuating memberinto position to be engaged and operated by the power member when ablank is being fed.

11. In an envelope machine, blank feeding I anism between an inoperativeposition in Y which it escapes the power operated member,

and an operative position in which it is engaged by the power operatedmember and moved thereby to actuate the shifting mecha-' nism, and meanscontrolled by the feeding of a blank to move said actuating member fromits inoperative to its operative position in which it will be engage andmoved by the power operated member.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature t this specification.

ABRAHAM NOVICK.

